From October 17 through 21, our website will be purple in support of “Turn the Campus Purple” week, an annual campaign to raise awareness for dating and domestic violence. Visit http://endsexualviolence.rutgers.edu/#Turn-The-Campus-Purple for a message from the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs as well as featured events throughout the week.

Last fall, the Division of Student Affairs launched Phase I of a large-scale sexual violence awareness campaign entitled: “The Revolution Starts Here: End Sexual Violence Now”. This campaign was a response to the findings of the #iSpeak Survey. A key finding of the report showed there was room for improvement in building awareness about the options and resources available at Rutgers University–New Brunswick for victims/survivors of sexual violence. To read more about the report and launch of this campaign, you can find my press briefing from 8/31/2015 here.

We are now in Phase II of this campaign, and Turning the Campus Purple, one of our signature events to focus on raising awareness and supporting survivors of dating violence and relationship abuse, was held the week of October 17. In support of this program and victims/survivors of sexual violence, we had made all Division of Student Affairs’ websites purple through October 21, 2016.

Sexual violence is a global issue that profoundly impacts higher education, and I am fully committed to this work. I am confident that Rutgers University­–New Brunswick can play a vital role in this conversation, and model what it means to be a welcoming, safe, and informed community.

The Not Anymore online education program is designed to educate students about sexual violence, dating violence, harassment, and stalking as well as explain University policies, procedures and resources. All Rutgers University-New Brunswick students are expected to participate in this online program by September 28.